Rich Isaacs is an engineering and survey tech who lives and works in Sonoma County. He spent 30 years in the retail record business as the owner of Listening Pleasure in Larkspur Landing. When he's not out driving his Scion, he's working on digitizing his 5,000-plus record collection.

Photo: Stephen Finerty

Rich Isaacs is an engineering and survey tech who lives and works...

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"In 2004, after 22 years and 270,000 miles with a supremely reliable but uninspiring 1983 Toyota Corolla, I was ready for something a bit more... sporty."

Photo: Stephen Finerty

"In 2004, after 22 years and 270,000 miles with a supremely...

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"The 2005 tC was being offered for under $20,000, with an impressive list of standard features: 17-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tires, panoramic moon roof, cruise control, six-speaker stereo and remote keyless entry, to name a few. It wasn't the sportiest car in its class, one that included the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Hyundai Tiburon, but it was a Toyota. I decided to check one out at a local dealership."

Photo: Stephen Finerty

"The 2005 tC was being offered for under $20,000, with an...

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"When I sat in the car, it just felt right. The test drive revealed it to be a strong and solid performer that would still get close to 30 mpg on average with regular fuel. The tC felt more like a Lexus than a Toyota, and I was sold."

Photo: Stephen Finerty

"When I sat in the car, it just felt right. The test drive revealed...

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"My Scion has required little beyond regular maintenance. The water pump went out during the warranty period, but that's about it. I've made numerous trips to Southern California without incident. Despite the fact that I now have well over 100,000 miles on it, I wouldn't hesitate to take it across the country."

"All in all, I have to say that no other single purchase in my life has given me more and longer-lasting pleasure. I intend to keep this car well beyond the 200,000 mile mark, and when the time comes I'll probably get another tC."

Photo: Stephen Finerty

"All in all, I have to say that no other single purchase in my life...

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"The newly introduced Scion FR-S is tempting, though. It's a sexy, more powerful rear-wheel-drive sport coupe developed jointly with Subaru, but it's smaller, requires premium fuel, and probably costs more to insure. I'll save the test drive for when I'm closer to parting with the tC."

Rich Isaacs is an engineering and survey tech who lives and works in Sonoma County. He spent 30 years in the retail record business as the owner of Listening Pleasure in Larkspur Landing. When he's not out driving his Scion, he's working on digitizing his 5,000-plus record collection.

In 2004, after 22 years and 270,000 miles with a supremely reliable but uninspiring 1983 Toyota Corolla, I was ready for something a bit more... sporty. I wanted to stick with Toyota because I had such a great track record with the Corolla, and I figured the Celica would be my next car.

It turned out that model was to be discontinued the following year, so I started to re-think things. Toyota had recently launched its Scion line, but the cars were either too small or too weird-looking for my taste. Then I began hearing about the soon-to-be-introduced sport coupe/hatchback, the Scion tC.

Everything I read about it sounded promising. The 2005 tC was being offered for under $20,000, with an impressive list of standard features: 17-inch alloy wheels with low-profile tires, panoramic moon roof, cruise control, six-speaker stereo and remote keyless entry, to name a few. It wasn't the sportiest car in its class, one that included the Mitsubishi Eclipse and Hyundai Tiburon, but it was a Toyota. I decided to check one out at a local dealership.

When I sat in the car, it just felt right. The test drive revealed it to be a strong and solid performer that would still get close to 30 mpg on average with regular fuel. The tC felt more like a Lexus than a Toyota, and I was sold. Unfortunately, so was the car I'd test-driven. They were in short supply, so I put in my order and waited.

In just a few weeks, the call came that my car was in. The drive home in my new car was exciting - the power and handling represented a huge step up from the Corolla. The smoothness made 55 mph seem like 35.

Although the novelty of power did result in a ticket or two in the early years, I drive with a bit more restraint these days. It's reassuring to know that I can pass vehicles in situations that were unthinkable with the Corolla.

My Scion has required little beyond regular maintenance. The water pump went out during the warranty period, but that's about it. I've made numerous trips to Southern California without incident. Despite the fact that I now have well over 100,000 miles on it, I wouldn't hesitate to take it across the country.

One weird thing did happen on a trip to Santa Barbara just a few months after I bought it. I had gone into a bank, and when I got back in my car and closed the door the entire rear window shattered and fell in. Once I got over the shock, I looked around to try to figure out what happened. I had parked under a tall pine tree, and on the ground ten feet behind my car was a large pinecone. It must have fallen and hit the window in such a way as to fracture it. The air pressure from the door closing provided enough force to finish the job. Getting the window replaced added a few days to my stay.

All in all, I have to say that no other single purchase in my life has given me more and longer-lasting pleasure. I intend to keep this car well beyond the 200,000 mile mark, and when the time comes I'll probably get another tC.

The newly introduced Scion FR-S is tempting, though. It's a sexy, more powerful rear-wheel-drive sport coupe developed jointly with Subaru, but it's smaller, requires premium fuel, and probably costs more to insure. I'll save the test drive for when I'm closer to parting with the tC.

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